Mama Tere was born Charlie Tahere Strickland. A runaway at 11 years old, his new life, was to be one of drugs, crime, prostitution, addiction, pain and self-destruction Charlie or Mama Tere as he was to become known on the streets of Auckland was to become institutionalized living a life that was headed nowhere.

Until something happened to her that was to change her life forever.

Today Charlie lives life as Mama Tere, a community worker, an outspoken campaigner for transgender rights and an outspoken advocate against decriminalizing prostitution.